Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Continuous Prayer

The Jesus Prayer according to
many Church Fathers is an essential to our spiritual growth. It is said to be
as old as the Church itself. Practising it continuously reminds us of Christ
throughout our life, having Him at the centre of our existence. Metropolitan
Anthony of Sourozh explains:

‘A last way in which we can pray
is the use, more or less continuous, of a vocal prayer that serves as a
background, a walking-stick, throughout the day and throughout life.

What I have in mind is something
which is specifically used by the Orthodox. It is what we call the ‘Jesus
Prayer’, a prayer which is centred on the name of Jesus. ‘Lord Jesus Christ,
son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.’ This prayer is used by monks and nuns
but also it is used by our lay people.

It is the prayer of stability,
because it is the prayer that is not discursive – we do not move from one
thought to another – it is a prayer that places us face to face with God
through a profession of faith concerning him, and it defines a situation
concerning us. It is the profession of faith which, according to the mind of
most Orthodox ascetics and mystics, is a summing up of the whole Gospels.’[1]

About Me

I have studied Theology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Theology, International Relations at the University of London (Queen Mary). My Master's Thesis was published as a book: 'The Aegean Sea Dispute Between Greece and Turkey - The Consequences for NATO and the EU'. For more information see: http://www.akakia.net/el/the-aegean-sea-dispute-between-greece-and-turkey
I have also studied Byzantine Music in Athens and I am currently undertaking a research on the “Fellowship of St. Alban and St. Sergius and its contribution towards Anglican – Orthodox Relations”, at the University of Winchester.
I also represent the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain at the A.E.C.A. If you wish to contact me you can email me: demetrifs1@yahoo.com